Marvel’sAvengersare one of the most famous superhero teams ever created, with iconic members such as Captain America, Iron Man and the Hulk. Of course, the team also has more obscure members, such as Starfox, Doctor Druid and the Two-Gun kid. Finally,there are thetrulyobscure members- the ones even most hardcore fans don’t associate with the team.
In this article, we’re looking at the most truly obscure Avengers heroes of all time - the vigilantes who never get invited to reunions, despite fighting under the Avengers name.
12Blonde Phantom, aka Louise Grant
First Seen in All Select Comics #11, Created by Stan Lee and Syd Shores
Anoft-forgotten Stan Lee creation, the Blonde Phantom is technically older than Marvel, debuting back when the company was called Timely Comics. The Blonde Phantom started out as an assistant at a detective agency who turned vigilante using her boss' files and a bright red evening gown. In modern comics, she worked with She-Hulk and was eventually replaced by her daughter.
The Blonde Phantom was recruited to the Avengers 1959 team by Nick Fury, helping to battle against Nazi interests with other vigilantes and mercenaries such as the similarly skilled (but better known) Silver Sable. Blonde Phantom doesn’t have any superhuman abilities, but later comics have suggested that like Deadpool and She-Hulk, she has realized she lives in a fictional reality.
11James Lucas and Constance Molina
First Seen in Cage #3, Created by Marcus McLaurin and Dwayne Turner
The father of Luke Cage’s Power Man, James Lucas was a New York cop who got swept up into the Mighty Avengers of the 1970s, working alongside heroes including Blue Marvel andBlade the vampire hunterto combat the ‘super vampires’ known as the Deathwalkers.
Armed with nothing but a revolver, James took on the mystical Deathwalkers, but was so traumatized by the experience that for the rest of his life, he suffered a serious phobia of superheroes, leading to a prolonged feud with his son that was only mended when his prior adventures finally came to light during theOriginal Sinevent.
Also on the ’70s team was the non-powered journalist Constance Molina. A reporter on New York’s supernatural ‘freak beat’, Constance was more prepared for seeing the supernatural side of the Marvel Universe. When the Deathstalkers returned in the 2010s, she joined Luke Cage’s modern Avengers to bring them down. Constance was part of the merged ‘Avenger Prime’ form that the team adopted in their final battle, magically merging with heroes including She-Hulk, Jessica Jones and the Blue Marvel.
10Dominic Fortune, aka Duvid Fortunov
First Seen in Marvel Preview #2, Created by Len Wein and Howard Chaykin
A swashbuckling mercenary/bodyguard who prefers to be thought of as a ‘Brigand For Hire,’ Dominic Fortune was another agent recruited to join the Avengers 1959 team, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Howard Chaykin. A skilled gambler, Dominic Fortune operates out of Hollywood, living a glamorous life while taking on missions that suit his heroic but rogueish outlook.
The Fortune name has been passed on to other heroes since the original retired, including Duvid’s son, who died in the costume.
9Kraven the Hunter, aka Sergei Kravinoff
Debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #15, Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Long before he was an enemy of Spider-Man, Kraven was another member of the Avengers 1959, hired by Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan. Kraven was a reluctant recruit, but ultimately helped defeat enemies including the Red Skull and the vampiric Baron Blood. After years plaguing Spider-Man,Kraven tricked his clone soninto killing him, passing on the codename and costume to the new Kraven.
8The Bear
First Seen in Iron Man #10, Created by Kieron Gillen and Dale Eaglesham
A member of the 1970s Mighty Avengers, the Bear is a socialite adventurer with the ability to turn into a gigantic bear while retaining her human mind. Created by the supernatural villains known as the Deathwalkers, the Bear was intended as a sacrifice to their dark gods, but escaped the villains and spent the following decades ruining their attempts to recreate the ceremony. It’s implied the magical creation of the Bear was responsible for the Tunguska event - a real-life event involving an unexplained explosion in 1908.
The Bear was later a member of ‘the Stark Seven’ - a heist crew assembled by Tony Stark’s father to steal an alien robot from a secret conclave of aliens hiding on Earth. Strangely, this team included other former and future Avengers, including the Avengers 1959’s Dum Dum Dugan and future Red Hulk Thunderbolt Ross.
The Bear is the only member of the team whodidn’tregroup when the Deathwalkers returned in the modern day, and remains a mysterious figure in Marvel lore, with her modern adventures or death so far unrevealed. She is usually flanked by two pet dogs, though the breed has changed over the decades.
7Ulysses Bloodstone
First Seen Marvel Presents #1, Created by John Warner, Mike Vosburg, Len Wein and Pat Boyette
The Marvel Universe’s greatest monster hunter, Ulysses gained superstrength, enhanced senses, minor telekinesis and immortality thanks to the cursed Bloodstone gem embedded in his chest. One of Marvel’s oldest heroes, Bloodstone was born in 8250 BC, dedicating his life to hunting the world’s greatest monsters and protecting humanity.
A member of the Avengers 1959, Bloodstone has existed for most of Marvel history, but finally died inRampaging Hulk #8. He was replaced byhis daughter Elsa Bloodstone, who uses a fragment of his cursed relic to continue his anti-monster crusade, while also working alongside other heroes including the Avengers, Midnight Sons and Deadpool.
The Bloodstone acted as a corrupting force on Ulysse, and while he was considered a hero, Elsa remembers him as an obsessed and abusive father who only cared about her following in his footsteps.
6Sabretooth, aka Victor Creed
First Seen Iron Fist #14, Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Long before he was an enemy of the X-Men, the vicious Sabretooth was a mercenary hired as a member of the Avengers 1959. His presence on the team almost caused teammate Kraven to walk, given the hunter’s opinion of Creed as little more than an animal. Sabretooth acted as a lethal enforcer for the team, with Nick Fury directing him to kill several of their enemies.
For his service to the government, Sabretooth received a pardon for all past crimes, but it didn’t stop him returning to his murderous nature. Creed was next seen as amember of Team X alongside Wolverine, leading to him entering the Weapon X program.
5Namora, aka Aquaria Neptunia
The cousin of Namor the Sub-Mariner, Namora is a half-human/half-atlantean, granting her superhuman physiology. As well as enhanced strength, speed and stamina, Namora can fly, has a healing factor when in water, and ages far more slowly than a human.
Namora was recruited onto the Avengers 1959, but is better known for her inclusion onthe Agents of Atlas roster, where she served alongside Jimmy Woo, Gorilla-Man and the Uranian.
4Kaluu
Debuted in Strange Tales #147, Created by Denny O’Neil and Bill Everett
An ancient sorcerer born in the hidden city of Kamar-Taj, Kaluu was corrupted by the mystic knowledge of the Darkhold. Becoming the tyrannical ruler of Kamar-Taj, Kaluu was defeated and banished by the sorcerer who would come to be known as the Ancient One, creating a lifelong grudge between the two. While exiled from Earth, Kaluu mellowed, becoming more of an antihero than a true villain.
Kaluu was a founding member of the Mighty Avengers of the 1970s, encountering and fighting Blade before teaming-up against their mutual enemies, the Deathwalkers. When the Deathwalkers returned in the modern day, Kaluu joined Luke Cage’s Mighty Avengers to defeat them again, sticking around with the heroes afterwards to pay them back for their help. Kaluu faced the Beyond Corporation and the Fast Five, despite expressing disdain for using his immense power to fight criminals.
3Starband, aka Vnn
A cavemen in 1,000,000 BC, Vnn was the first human to be giventhe power of the Star Brand- a planetary defense system which imbues its protector with staggering power. As the first human Starbrand, Vnn was transformed into a gigantic, Hulk-like form with immense superstrength and devastating energy powers.
When an unstable Celestial attacked prehistoric Earth, Vnn was recruited onto the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC alongside Odin and early versions of Black Panther, Iron Fist, Ghost Rider and (later) Moon Knight. The group faced several cosmic threats while also acting as a contingency against time travelers who tried to alter Earth-616.
Sadly, Vnn was eventually killed by Doom Supreme during the Avengers' war againstthe Multiversal Masters of Eviland Mephisto’s Council of Red, with the Star Brand going on to find many new bearers up to the modern day.
